COVID Vaccine: My Second Pfizer Shot

 Greetings,

I wrote a little while ago about having my first COVID-19 vaccine and having the Pfizer vaccine to be precise and what I went through as some information for those with fibromyalgia (FM), so they might be aware of some side-effects. I also wrote it because even through all that I knew that I was doing the right thing and that was the most important thing. Well, with the prescribed weeks later, I went and had my second shot of the Pfizer vaccine, knowing full well what the side-effects would be.

The advantage that I had was that I was prepared for these side-effects so the doctor and I were able to mitigate some of the effects by increasing some of my medications for the period of the side-effects. This helped a bit and reduced some of the effect. I am not going to go and detail the day-by-day side-effects that I experienced after this second shot, I don't think it will serve any purpose. The side-effects were much the same, only slightly reduced.

In about five months I will be eligible to have my booster shot, and I will be having that too. Yes, it will no doubt result in another week full of side-effects, but that is not the point. Yes, it will result in me being inconvenienced for another week, but that is not the point. I will decrease my chances of being infected by COVID-19; I will also decrease my chances of passing the same on to others; and that is the point.

Much like wearing a mask in public where we can't social distance or we are asked to by our government, or public health authorities. We do this not only for our own benefit, but for the benefit of those around us. This is something that has often been lost in our current era, we do not think of others very often, we do not take our heads out of our little worlds to think of how our actions affect others, or how our inactions affect others. 

If anything, I hope that this pandemic teaches us to be kind to our neighbours, to consider our actions and what effect they will have on our neighbours. I know they are high hopes, but you have to start somewhere.

Cheers, 

Henry.

... But That's Not Me

 Greetings,

Funny thing, this started as a Facebook (FB) post, but it grew into something more worthy of a post on my blog, and I have posted so infrequently on this blog that I decided that it was time that I started again, at least on a more semi-regular basis. Before I get to the nitty-gritty of the current situation, I had my second Pfizer shot, with much the same resulting side-effects as the last, i.e. a week-long flare of my fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms. You can read the previous post if you want details. I still think it is worth it; COVID and the potential long-term side-effects would be much worse. Anyway, enough of that stuff, it's not actually why I am here today.

Like this blog I occasionally post some things on FB to raise awareness about FM, these are primarily images which I share from sites across FB. These are not cries for sympathy, I don't want sympathy it does me no good whatsoever. Sympathy is a salve for the individual who gives it. It makes them feel better. Sure it makes the other person feel better for a little while, but it is like giving painkillers to fix a broken spine. They take the pain away briefly, but the spine is still broken; and the painkillers become addictive and begin losing their effect after a while.

Empathy is a little more useful, though I find it difficult to understand how a person who does not have FM can empathise with a person who does. "Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another's position." as defined by Wikipedia. How can a person "feel" what the person with FM feels every day, what they experience? Empathy is a long stretch in my opinion. Understanding, now that is a possibility, even if it is described through the particular lens of the individual, that will do nicely. Understand that we have our good days and our bad days. Understand that the symptoms are annoyingly random. Understand that it is like a roulette wheel as to whether tomorrow will be a good day or not. Further, understand that people react differently.

Returning to my original position, I post the images because they often do a good job explaining some of what I experience, however I dislike reading many of the comments because they do not relate to me. It's one of the reasons that I have not joined a support group in the decades since I was diagnosed. I have run into people who have FM and there tends to be two types. 

The first type allows their condition to rule their lives. It is the explanation for the reason why they don't do things. FM is the reason they don't or can't go out and do things. FM has ruined their lives because their body will not allow them to do things, because it hurts. They do things and it causes them pain so they don't do them anymore. They focus on the negative.

The second type understands the effect the condition has had on their lives, but pushes against those boundaries every chance they get. They go out and do things regardless of their condition; in some cases deliberately in spite of their condition. They push they pain to one side so they can go out and do things, and find that while they are doing them they don't notice the pain. They push their limits, and pay for it, and then go out and push their limits again, and again. 

The problem is that most of the responses to the images that I find are from the first type, and I am certainly from the second type. I want to find out what I can do, and keep on doing it. I don't want the spiral of ever-reducing capacity. I want to get out there and keep doing things.

I thought about responding to the comments, to show these people that there is hope, but you have to find it within yourselves rather than go looking for it elsewhere. I thought about arguing it from a philosophical point of view, pointing them toward the Stoics for a better way to live. The Roman emperor, and Stoic, Marcus Aurelius suffered from chronic illness. His Meditations as we know it now has passages about pain and illness, because he suffered and responded. I thought about even pointing them toward Nietzsche who also suffered from chronic illness throughout his life, pointing them toward his "will to power", but I wonder what the responses would be. 

Instead, I write to you, my dear reader, explaining how these people are not me. They do not represent everyone with FM; we have not all lost hope; some of us do not live our lives in little balls of pain shutting the world out complaining about all the pain, we have lives to live. The only way to change your life is for you to change your life. Take a different perspective. Change your thought patterns. Don't wait for the miracle cure that may or may not happen. This is your life, go out and live it.

Cheers,

Henry.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You will notice a lot of Wikipedia links in my posts. This is a great resource of free information which is now reliably researched, as you will note by the references which appear at the bottom of each page. I donate to the Wikimedia Foundation every year to keep this non-profit group operational, and I recommend that everyone do the same, you can do this HERE. Please give, and keep this free source of information alive, there are few of them these days.

The COVID Vaccine: My First Pfizer Shot

Greetings,

There are somethings that must be made clear before you begin reading the following entry. First, I apologise that it has been so long that I have made an entry on this blog, I just have not found anything which I thought was relevant to write. Second, this was my first Pfizer vaccine shot against the COVID-19 virus and I went in with open eyes. Third, I have multiple co-morbid conditions which likely added to the symptoms which you will read below. Fourth, this is intended to educate, not scare, any of my fellow fibro-fighters in regard to the Pfizer vaccine. Finally, and most importantly, I will be having the second and booster shots when they become available. One could almost term me as a pro-vaxxer, if I could afford it they could line up all the vaccinations and I would have them all.

These records come from my Facebook page, made so I could record them and post them here, no I can explain the situation...

"Pfizer vax No.1 done... about 12hrs ago, certainly not looking like I am going to be up to much this week if symptoms persist." 

In preparation for my vaccine, I cleared out my entire week because I did not know how my fibromyalgia (FM) was going to react with the Pfizer vaccine. I had heard varied reports from people with various chronic health conditions. By this time I was feeling a little uncomfortable, nothing new after being out all day really. I seemed to have missed the +24hr mark, obviously I was busy with other things, or just plain forgot. The reports continue...

"Pfizer +48hrs: general aches, FM not playing well at all, headache, joints not happy, costochondritis present; a little warm, but not feverish."

By this time the vaccine was truly in my system. I was beginning to feel the real symptoms of the side-effects. "Flu-like symptoms" is how they describe it, some "aches and pains" is a further comment. What it really means is it wakes all your FM symptoms and turns them all on. This was actually just the side-effects warming up.

"Pfizer shot+72hrs: fibro is still in "flare mode"; last night right leg froze up and made walking "interesting"; have a headache which is almost constant and has been so since 6hrs+; pick a joint it's probably either stiff, painful, or waiting it's turn; focus is varied, "fibro-fog" is having a party unless I focus hard, which exacerbates headache; pottering along, doing what I can, not expecting much.

Still going ahead with second, regardless."

By this time I was experiencing side-effects which I can only describe as what I experienced during some of my worst fibro-flares. You can see the physical and mental effects that it was having on me just by the description. I spent most of the time relaxing as much as possible, like I do when my FM is flaring. You will also note my usual stubbornness present in regard to having the second shot, even with these symptoms present. I would rather go through all of this all over again, than have the higher chance of getting COVID and the possible after-effects of that. Moving on with the story...

 

"Pfizer +96hrs (4 days): headache is still there; "fibro flare" is beginning to subside; walking is becoming less painful, joints less painful, but still present; overall some improvement, hoping to be "sociable" by tomorrow."

The worst part of it was over by now. There was still some pain, but I was certainly more mobile than I was before, even 12hrs before I made the report. I mean I know how stubborn I am, but this was actual improvement. I was still unstable, still had a bit of lingering "fibro-fog" but it was certainly improving by this stage, and looking back, I have certainly been sicker.

"Pfizer update +6 days: Almost back to "normal" (whatever the hell that means). I still have lymph glands which are up. I still have some muscle soreness and achy joints (but much less than it has been). I still have the headache, but it is background noise. Thank goodness "fibro-fog" has almost reduced down to normal levels, that has been the worst in my opinion. Screw the pain, screw the movement limitation, the "not being able to think properly" thing sucks the worst."

The last report that I posted appears above. I did not bother with another report a week later, which was yesterday actually. I am mostly back to "normal" I am now just living with the consequences of being inactive for a week. My body doesn't like moving too much my brain is back to its usual self, though I do have a niggling occasional headache, which could be explained by my messed up neck. I definitely believe that the fibro-fog was the worst. If I could've just sat and watched or wrote, or played games, that would've been alright, but the fog made it hard along with the headache.

In a nut-shell, I've had fibro-flares which were worse, some which were brought on by other medications, some which were brought on by completely external sources. I will be getting the second Pfizer shot, I know that there is the potential for a repeat, or worse, of these symptoms, but in the end it will be worth it. As Nietzsche said, "What does not destroy me, makes me stronger.” The Stoics, through the emperor Marcus Aurelius, who had his own chronic health issues, had a similar approach in that everything is fuel for the fire to make us greater.

Talk with your health professional, see which COVID vaccination is right for you. Prepare for the possible side-effects by reading about them, informing yourself as you would anything else, but ask your health professional about anything you are worried about. Do not fear the possible outcomes. Know that you are not only doing this for yourself, but your loved ones, and those who cannot have the vaccine. This is not just a question of being good to your loved ones, but everyone you meet, being a good human being. I will leave you with this comment from the aforementioned Marcus Aurelius to consider.

"Have I done something for the common good? Then I too have benefited. Have this thought always ready to hand: and no stopping." Marcus Aurelius - Meditations

I hope that what I have said will help you, not inspire you, but help you. I wish you a pain-free day.

Cheers,

Henry.